It appears tourists in Belize spend about three times as much a day as they do in Nicaragua.

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In Costa Rica, the top Central American destination for tourists, visitors spend approximately US$112 per day. In Nicaragua, tourists spend the least, averaging US$48 per day, according to a report from the Central American Tourism Integration System (SICA). However, the report did not give average spending figures for Belize, but in 2009 it was US$149 per day.

Tourists spend an average of US$109 in Panama, US$97 in Guatemala, US$79 in El Salvador and US$60 in Honduras.

In Honduras and Costa Rica, the average duration of a visit is 11 nights. Most visitors stay for an average of nine nights in Panama, seven in Nicaragua, and six in Guatemala and El Salvador, according to SICA. The report also stated that tourism has recovered from the downturn caused by the international economic crisis.

Interesting statistics, but having recently returned from a third visit to Panama, my travel partner and I laughed...a lot..at how inexpensive it was. If you hit happy hour, the local rum drinks are 75 cents....up 25 cents from my last visit 5 years ago. Transportation in Bocas between islands is cheap, 2 or 3 U.S. dollars. Food is amazing and so inexpensive. Lodging: nothing fancy, but clean, safe and quiet: right on water for $65 per night, including full breakfasts. Lots of bang for the vacation buck!